I have been pet sitting and here is my little charge, she was my constant companion for the last 10 days
her name in Lola and yes of course I sang the song many times during my stay
The Kinks have a lot to answer for
I was cooking for one so I managed to make some of the food that I cooked "morph" into more than one dish.
i.e. Chicken stock made from roasted wings became Chicken Soup which then was used to poach some Chicken Breasts, which then were turned into this Chicken and Vegetable Bake
It doesn't look particularly attractive but it was very tasty and I got to use up the Vegetables that were sitting in the fridge
So you will need
Chicken Stock about 2 cups enough to cover the breasts
1 Chicken Breast per person
50 gms butter
3-4 mushrooms chopped
I onion peeled and chopped
1 carrot washed and chopped
1 red pepper chopped
1 yellow pepper chopped
6 Brussels sprouts chopped
Big handful of spinach roughly chopped
For the roux
50 gms butter
50 gms flour
500 pls of milk
Sea salt and Freshly ground black pepper
1 cup Grated Cheese (Spilt in 2)
Fine breadcrumbs about 3 tablespoons
So first gently poach the chicken breast in simmering chicken stock
this will take about 20 mins
Set aside and let them cool in the stock this will help to keep them moist
Then cut into 2 cms pieces
Meanwhile in another pan
On medium to high heat
Melt butter and throw in the mushrooms
Season with S & P
Saute and remove from pan
Meanwhile in the same pan sauté the Onions, Carrots and Peppers and put aside
Prepare the Brussel Sprouts and Spinach
Wipe the pan and add 50 gms of butter
Melt and add the Brussels sprouts , sauté for a few minutes
Add the flour and stir well,
Slowly add the milk stirring until the sauce is lovely, silky and thick
Meanwhile grate the cheese
Add the1/2 the cheese and the chopped spinach
Add the flour and stir well,
let the flour cook out for about 4 minutes, stirring constantly
Slowly add the milk stirring until the sauce is lovely, silky and thick
Meanwhile grate the cheese
Add the1/2 the cheese and the chopped spinach
Add the rest of the vegetables and the chicken to the sauce
Then lightly grease a baking dish and fill up your dish
Sprinkle with the remainder of the grated cheese and then sprinkle fine breadcrumbs onto
just to lightly cover
Pop into 180C preheated oven and bake till cheese in melted and it is bubbling away nicely
Probably about 25 mins
Unfortunately I forgot to take a photo of the dish before it went into the oven and also when it came out so you will have to trust me that it looks and smell divine
I dished up this helping and wolfed it down
Yum